Automatic checkrein.



E. M. MART-IN. 7 AUTOMATIC .GHEGKREIN. APP LIOATION FILED D30. 9. 1907.

906,045. Patented Dec'. 8,-19Q8.

.12. a 55 .5fi 4] 4; i 1 9 f0 7 40 i. v .v

A. TTORNE Y5 INVENTOR. v

EDWIN M. MARTIN, OF MATTOON, ILLINOIS.

AUTOMATIC cnncxnnm.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 8, 1908.

Application filed December 9, 1907. Serial No. 405,771.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWIN M. MARTIN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Mattoon, in the county of Coles and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Automatic Checkrein, of which the following is a specification.

My present invention relates to improvements in devices for checking horses heads, and it has for its object to provide an improved device of this character that is capable of being automatically released to permit lowering of the horses heads when at a drinking fountain or trough, and which operates to automatically return the horses head to normal or checked position so that the horse will present a stylish appearance, the device being so constructed that it may be readily manufactured and sold at a reasonable price, and its parts are not liable to get out of order.

To these and other ends, the invention comprises the various novel features of construction and combination and arrangement of parts, which will be hereinafter more fully described, and pointed out particularly in the claims appended hereto.

In the accompanying drawing :Figure 1 represents a central vertical section of a checking device constructed in accordance with the present invention. Fig. 2 is an axial section of the device shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the trip for controlling the operation of the device.

Corresponding parts in the several figures are indicated throughout by similar characters of reference.

The checking device shown in the present embodiment of the invention comprises a supporting frame having a bolt or other suitable attaching means whereby it may be secured in a suitable position on the harness, it being preferably attached to the saddle in lieu of the usual hook for the checkrein. The frame employed in the present instance is substantially yoke-shaped, the intermediate portion 1 being provided with a bolt or other attaching device 2 whereby it is secured to the harness, the upwardly extending arms 3 and 4 of the frame being suitably spaced to accommodate the operating parts of the device.

The checkrein operating and controlling devices are mounted, in the present instance, on a shaft 5 that is suitably supported at its ends by the arms of the frame, anti-friction or ball bearings 6 and 7 being provided, in the present instance, on the respective arms and arranged to cooperate with the adjacent ends of a drum or reel 5, whereby the latter may rotate freely.

In the center of the drum and arranged to rotate therewith is a toothed wheel 8, the teeth 9 being preferably in the form of ratchet teeth, and cooperating with the latter is a detent 10 which is pivoted on a pin 11 extending through the intermediate portion of the frame, and the detent is provided with a pair of operating arms 12 and 13, a coiled spring 14 encircling the pivot pin and having one end engaging the detent and the other end thereof cooperating with a shoulder 15 on the frame, the normal action of the spring operating to hold the detent in cooperative relation with the teeth on the ratchet wheel to lock the latter from rotation in one direction and to permit it to rotate in a reverse direction.

Secured to the drum 5' on opposite sides of the wheel 8 are flexible tapes 18 and 19, the latter being composed of relatively thin strips 'of steel or other suitable material having the requisite tensile strength, the inner ends of these tapes being attached to the drum 5 and their outer ends extending through an opening 20 formed in the periphery of the casing 21 which extends between the vertical arms of the frame. The ends of the tapes are connected by a cross bar 22, and the latter in turn is buckled, or otherwise attached, to the checkrein of the harness.

In order to minimize-the friction between the tapes and the casing surrounding the opening, a pair of anti-friction rollers 23 and 24 are preferably journaled in the casing at the upper and lower sides of the opening to provide rolling surfaces for the tapes.

On opposite sides of the ratchet wheel be- I such as will permit expansion of the springs,

and a consequent winding of the tape.

Unwinding movement of the tapes, however, is controlled by the detent, and the present instance the detent is provided with a tripping device that isfiopfil'iitfidiantomat; ically by the tension on the check-rein, the

a lug 81 formed on the casing, the lower end of this lever being arranged to engage be neath the operating arm 12,0f the detent to turn the latter about its-pivotin a direction that will disengage it fromthe ratchet wheel, and thereby permit rotation. of the latter in a direction that will unwind the'tapes com nected with the check-rein. The upper end of the lever is provided with a pair of branched arms 32 between which are j ournaled a pair of rollers or equivalent guiding devices 33 between which the tapes 18 and 19 pass, these rollers or guiding devices being solocated relatively to the tape containing drum and the horses headthat when the horses head is lowered, as in the act of drinking, the downward pressure of the tape on the lever will depress the latter, turning it about its pivot, and causing its lower end to operate the detent to releaseit.

t It will here be noted that by reason of the I 1 stretching quality of the check-rein strap the ordinary swinging movement of the horses head will not afiect the trip, but when the animal lowers its head in the act of drinking, thepositive downward pressure exerted by the tape on the lower reller 33 will actuate the lever or trip to release the detent, as before Stated.

In order to enable the device to be adjusted properly according to the height the horse customarily holds his head, the lever is composed of't'wo sections having coeperat'ivel'y arranged pivot members 34 and 35, the engaging faces of these members be ing roughened or provided with serrations 36, and an ad ustingscrew 37 extending axially through the members and serving to lock them in different adjusted positions, these pivot members being so, located relatively to the operating parts of thelever that a relative. adjustment of the sections will alter the height of the rollersuor guiding portions arranged on the upper ends thereof to correspond to the inclination of the check- 7 rein. r

extended through an opening in :the casing so that the same may be pressed by means of the butt end of "a whip, ahelical com pression spring 40 being interposed between the frame and a pin or sh'ouldertl on the plunger and normally acting to reit aqtth j a e -f In order to lock the device from operation and'fthereby prevent lowering of the horses head, a shaft 42 is extended through the: frame; and provided witha projection 43 that isadaptedto occupy two diiferent "positions as the'shaft 42 is turned by means of the finger-piece H thereon, the projectlon when in one of the positions engaging behind [the operatingarin l3 of the 'detent and therebyiserving asa lock to prevent releasing movement of the detent. The lock ing devicemaybe used advantageously when the horse is hitched toa rack or post, as it preventsthe horse from entangling his head in the harness. n

' In operation, the actuating springs are normally in expanded position, and the tapes are wound upon their respective drmns, the locking projection on the detent engaging the teeth of the ratchet wheel to prevent unwinding movement of the tapes. However, when the horse lowers its head in the act of drinking, the downward movement imparted to the check-rein will cause the tape to depress the upper end of the tripping device with a pressure sufiicient to elevate the operating arm 12' of the detent, thereby causing the latter to unlock the ratchet wheel, the tensionon the check-rein serving to unwind the tapes from their re spective drums and to simultaneously wind the actuating springs by reason of the fact that the tapes and'springs are wound in opposite directions. Then the horses head is again lifted,'th e tension of the check-rein will be sufficiently reduced to permit the detent to return to locking position, the ac tion of the springs serving to rewind the tapes, and after the rewinding of the tapes, the detent serves to relock the device, so that the horses headwill be checked firmly at the properheighti 7 That is claimed is 1. In a device of the character described, the combination with a supporting frame, ofa drum revolubly mounted on the frame, a tape carried by the drum, an actuating spring normally acting to wind the tape on the drum, a locking device for normally preventing unwinding of the tape, and a tripping device independent of the locking device and operable by the tape for releasing said locking device. p 7

2. In a device oft-he character described, the combination with a support-ing frame, of a drum revolubly supported by the frame, a tape'carried by the drum, an actuating spring normally operating to wind the tape on said drum, a detent normally serving to lock the tape drum, a tripping device independent of the detent. and operated automatically by the tape to release the detentand means independent of the tripping device for moving the detent to released position.

3. In a device of the character described, the combination with a suitable supporting frame, of a drum supported by the frame, a tape secured to the drum, an actuating spring normally operating to wind the tape on said drum, a ratchet wheel rotatable with the drum, a detent upon the frame cooperating with the ratchet wheel to permit winding and prevent unwinding of the tape, and a tripping lever pivoted on the frame and having a portion at one end cooperating with the tape, and engaging the detent at its opposite end to effect the release of the detent.

4. In a device of the character described, the combination with a suitable supporting frame, of a drum revolubly mounted therein, a tape secured to the drum, a spring normally acting to Wind the tape on said drum, a toothed wheel revoluble with the tape drum, a detent normally cooperating with the toothed wheel to prevent unwinding of the tape, and a tripping lever for releasing the detent embodying a lower section pivoted on the frame and having a portion cooperating with the detent, and an upper section adjustable angularly relatively to the lower section and having a portion cooperating with the tape for automatically releasing the detent.

5. In a device of the character described, the combination with a suitable supporting frame, of a drum revolubly mounted on the frame, a tape secured to the drum, an actuating spring normally operating to wind the tape on the drum, a locking device normally operating to prevent unwinding of the tape, and a sectional tripping device pivotally mounted on the frame, one of the trip sections being adjustable laterally with respect to the other and provided with means for engagement with the tape, said tripping device being operable by engagement with the tape to release the locking device.

6. In a device of the character described, the combination with a suitable supporting frame, of a drum revolubly mounted thereon, a tape secured to the drum, a spring normally operating to wind the tape on said drum, a toothed wheel, a locking device cooperating with the latter to prevent unwinding of the tape, and a tripping device pivotally mounted on a relatively fixed part of the frame and having one end cooperating with the locking device and having a pair of branched arms at the opposite end, and a pair of spaced guides extending between the said arms and having the free end of the tape extending between them.

7. The combination with a suitable frame, of a drum revolubly mounted on the frame,

a tape secured to the drum, a spring normally acting to wind the tape on said drum, a toothed wheel revoluble with the tape drum, a detent cooperating with the toothed wheel to prevent unwinding movement of the tape drum, a tripping device operable by the tape for releasing the detent,a plunger fitted in the rear side of the frame and having a portion engaging the detent for unlocking it independently of the trip ping device, and a spring for normally retracting the plunger.

8. The combination with a suitable frame for attachment to a harness, of a drum revolubly mounted on the frame, a tape secured to the drum and adapted to be attached to the check-rein, a toothed wheel revoluble with the tape drum, a detent cooperating with the wheel to prevent unwinding of the tape, means operable by engagement with the tape for releasing the detent, and a device for locking the detent in cooperative relation with the toothed wheel.

9. The combination with a suitable frame adapted to be attached to a harness, of a rotary element mounted on the frame and provided with a plurality of drums, tapes wound on the drums and connected at their other ends to a check-rein attaching device, springs normally acting to wind the tapes, a ratchet wheel arranged between and revoluble with the tape drums, a detent cooperating with the toothed wheel to control the operation of the tape drums, and a tripping device having means for supporting said tapes and operable by the latter for releasing the detent.

10. In a device of the character described, the combination with a frame embodying an intermediate portion adapted to be attached to a harness, and spaced vertical arms, of a rotary element embodying a shaft having its ends journaled in said arms, a plurality of drums mounted on the shaft, tapes wound on the drums, and adapted to be attached to a check-rein, actuating springs secured to the rotary element and frame, respectively, a toothed wheel mounted between the tape drums, a detent cooperating with the toothed wheel to control the operation of the rotary element, a casing extending between the arms of the frame and inclosing the rotary element, and tripping devices operable by engagement with the tapes for releasing the detent.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

EDWIN M. MARTIN.

Witnesses:

B. N. HENLY, J. W. HARRIS. 

